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Flash for 30 October 2018

Our meeting began in the usual way with President Gene James leading in the Pledge of Allegiance, God Bless America and our invocation by Pete Dochinez.

Sergeant at Arms Report:
Mark Barnhart reported 36 of our 71 members were in attendance.

Announcements:

PLEASE NOTE: November 6 will be Club Assembly – PLEASE DO NOT BRING GUESTS THAT DAY.

Club News:

Foundation Moment with Jeff Balzer: Rotary’s official involvement in polio eradication began on September 29, 1979 when Rotary began its first 3H grant in the Philippines. The grant, then the largest of its kind, was to begin immunizing 6 million children in the Philippines against polio. In 1985, Rotary began its PolioPlus Program which was the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication through the mass inoculation of children. Throughout the 1987-1988 Rotary year, the first fund drive to raise funds for its PolioPlus campaign was initiated. This campaign was to show the world it was committed to eradicating polio. A goal of $120 million was set. At the 79th convention of Rotary International in Philadelphia, Rotarians from around the world gathered to announce the amount raised was $247 million, nearly double the original goal. From the beginning, Rotary’s milestones in polio eradication had one common thread: Rotary International President Chuck Keller. Chuck was the 4th Rotarian to give those initial polio drops to children in the Philippines. Chuck was instrumental in setting up the PolioPlus program in 1985 and it was his Convention in 1988 that Rotary showed the world it was serious about eradicating polio by raising $247 million. One more Keller trivia: He was the first RI president to come from a breakfast club – The Rotary Club of California, District 7330.

Word of the Week with Jim Steeley: TRICK OR TREAT – It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions originated from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain; that such festivals may have had pagan roots; and that Samhain itself was Christianized as Halloween by the early Church. Some believe, however, that Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, separate from ancient festivals like Samhain.

Today’s Halloween customs are also thought to have been influenced by Christian dogma and practices derived from it. Halloween is the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows’ Day (also known as All Saints’ or Hallowmas) on 1 November and All Souls’ Day on 2 November, thus giving the holiday on 31 October the full name of All Hallows’ Eve (meaning the evening before All Hallows’ Day). These three days are collectively called Allhallowtide and are a time for honoring the saints and praying for the recently departed souls who have yet to reach Heaven.

Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, “Trick or treat?” The word “trick” implies a “threat” to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. The practice is said to have roots in the medieval practice of mumming, which is closely related to souling.

Greensburg Salem Interact Club will host the Harlem Wizards (basketball) on Tuesday, November 13 at 7:00 pm at Greensburg Salem High School. Tickets are $10 each or courtside tickets are $25 each.

BOARD ELECTIONS: The Board of Directors will need three new board members. If you have any interest in being on the ballot as expressing interest, please let Bob Bloom know. 1st ballot will be on November 13 with the picking of 6; 2nd ballot on November 20 with narrowing it down to 3; tie breaker will be following week, if necessary.

The Holiday Party will be on December 11 at All Saints Brewery. We will be having an Ugly Sweater Contest for those who want to participate. A sign-up sheet will be passed around soon.

We will again be collecting cake mixes and frosting for the Food Bank at Our Lady of Grace Church with distribution in November and December. A sign-up sheet is being passed around for monetary donations or you can purchase cake mixes on your own. Please see Yvonne Bloom for more information.